In
a legal action guaranteed to shock most Americans, a gay man is suing
a major publisher of Bibles claiming certain verses caused him "emotional
distress." He's suing for $70 million.

Bradley
LaShawn Fowler, a 39-year old self-avowed homosexual from Canton, Michigan,
seeks $60 million from Zondervan, a major publisher of religious books,
and an additional $10 million from Thomas Nelson Publishing in his lawsuits
filed in the federal court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

While
observers believe Fowler is being backed by an anti-Christian or pro-gay
group, according to The
Grand Rapids Press (in Michigan), the plaintiff Fowler is representing
himself in the legal proceedings.

"I
believe this self-representation business is a sham. I suspect some
big-money organization or a wealthy benefactor is providing the finances
for this obscene abuse of the legal system and the US Constitution's
'separation of church and state' tradition. Are Christians really going
to allow some gay activist and a black-robed lawyer to decide how the
Bible is written?" asks political strategist Mike Baker.

Fowler
claims that King James Bibles published by Zondervan disparages homosexuals
as sinners. He said he filed his lawsuits against Bible publishers because
they are instrumental in having his family turn against him. Fowler
is also claiming the Bible verses cause him physical discomfort and
that he suffers mental distress as a result of those scriptures.

"The
intent of the publisher was to design a religious, sacred document to
reflect an individual opinion or a group's conclusion to cause me or
anyone who is a homosexual to endure verbal abuse, discrimination, episodes
of hate, and physical violence ... including murder," Fowler wrote
in his self-styled legal brief.

"This
whole lawsuit is making a mockery of the Holy Bible and a blatant attempt
by the homosexual community to take away the rights of Bible-believing
Christians in the United States. Past cases against Christians and their
beliefs has shown that court actions infringing on their beliefs and
practices is even easier than taking away candy from a baby," Baker
warns.

"The
Muslim religion also condemns homosexuality. If Mr. Fowler was to sue
the publishers of the Koran, would the Muslims sit silently by? Salman
Rushdie wrote a book titled The
Satanic Verses that offended the muslims back in 1988, and
he's still in hiding today. In a Christian Nation, they tolerate Gay
Pride Parades. Make a mockery of the Christian Bible, and all you can
expect from the religious leadership is 'we'll pray on it', said Baker."

"A
good example of Christians tolerating blasphemy is an artwork made famous
back in 1987 by Andres Serrano, titled; "Piss
Christ," and voting for spineless weenies and the lesser of
two evils is why America is at the doorstep of destruction," added
Lorraine Tillman.

"My
fear is that Christians -- bishops, pastors, and church-goers -- will
silently accept the decision of a black-robed lawyer who may or may
not have his own religious agenda. Too often religious leaders have
failed to motivate their churches to take action when their rights are
being violated by oppressive anti-religious forces inside and outside
our government," said Baker. By the way added Baker, "one
of the books published by Thomas Nelson Publishing is Judge Andrew Napolitano's
'A
Nation of Sheep.'"

In
a recently released statement, a Zondervan spokesperson wrote: "Zondervan
doesn't translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations.
Instead [our] company relies on the scholarly judgment of credible translation
committees."

Meanwhile,
U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook, Jr., who will hear Fowler’s
case against Thomas Nelson, said that he “has some very genuine
concerns about the nature and efficacy of [the plaintiff's] claims."
Christian observers such as Jane Martin believe such statements only
encourage these types of lawsuits.

"This
case just may go a lot further than it deserves, thanks to a liberal
judge who believes his word is sacrosanct," she said.

While
Fowler claims he alone is involved in the Zondervan and Thomas Nelson
Publishing lawsuits, some conservatives believe he is being secretly
backed by a group or individual with "deep pockets" and an
interest in attacking Christianity.

"This
guy Fowler isn't telling us the full story. I'd bet the farm someone
with millions of dollars to spare is backing him financially in a move
to actually alter what Christians believe is 'the word of God,'"
claims Mike Baker.

"We're
an international Christian communications company with a heart for helping
people find and follow Jesus Christ by inspiring them with relevant
biblical and spiritual resources. We do this through our best-selling,
award-winning, and life-changing products," according to their
mission statement.

The
other target of Fowler's lawsuit is Thomas
Nelson, Inc., located in Nashville, TN. Nelson is one of the oldest
publishing houses in the US, being established in 1798. As with Zondervan,
the company specializes in Bibles, Christian non-fiction and fiction
books, audiotapes and other religious products.

The
judge hearing the Fowler lawsuit, Julian Abele Cook, was appointed to
the federal bench during the Carter Administration in 1978. According
to a source in Washington, DC, Cook is "to the left" on most
issues including so-called discrimination cases. In fact, besides being
a federal judge, Cook has served as a chairman or vice-chairman of several
civil liberties organizations and panels and he has close ties to the
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

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"If
people believe this lawsuit will disappear, they are sadly mistaken.
Judge Cook is considered an activist judge who has a personal agenda
when it comes to so-called discrimination cases. And the homosexual
plaintiff against Zondervan and Thomas Nelson is claiming the Bible
discriminates against gays and lesbians. This case is not going away
any time soon," warns Baker.